Broken Arrow
3/4
Starring: Christian Slater, John Travolta, Samantha Mathis, Delroy Lindo, Frank Whaley
Rated R for Strong Action Violence and Language
"Broken Arrow" is everything a summer action movie should be (despite the fact that it was released in February for some reason): it's got a good hero, a villain bent on destruction for money, a spunky female, and lots and lots of action. Although far from perfect, it is good fun.
Major Vic Deakins (Travolta) and Captain Riley Hale (Slater) are assigned to go on a stealth run with two thermonuclear weapons. Along the way, Deakins goes homicidal and tries to kill Hale. Failing that, he ejects his comrade into the Utah desert. Hale quickly finds out that Deakins has stolen the bombs and plans on detonating them in a US city unless he's paid big bucks. The only thing that stands in his way is Hale, who knows him way too well, and a beautiful park ranger (Mathis).
The performances are top-notch. Christian Slater makes for a sympathetic hero, toning down his crazy mannerisms. John Travolta is clearly enjoying himself as the wicked Deakins. He's bad to the bone and a total lunatic (something of which he is proud of), but Travolta never lets us forget that this man is dangerous. Samantha Mathis is okay, but she's not really at home in action movies. Another actor must be mentioned, although not for the reasons listed above. Character actor Bob Gunton, who plays the operation's financier Pritchett, is incredibly irritating. He's constantly freaking out and it gets pretty old fast.
John Woo is a master of action movies, specifically gunfighting. Although he is great with explosions, choreographing gunfights is where he truly shines, and there's a lack of that in "Broken Arrow." That's not to say that he doesn't do great work here, which he does, but that's one thing that's missing here. "Face/Off," which was released a year later, rectified this.
The film isn't flawless. The script by Graham Yost, who wrote "Speed," could have used some tightening up, and even John Woo can't cover-up the contrivances needed to make everything go according to formula. Still, this is a fun ride, with some great shots of Utah.
Starring: Christian Slater, John Travolta, Samantha Mathis, Delroy Lindo, Frank Whaley
Rated R for Strong Action Violence and Language
"Broken Arrow" is everything a summer action movie should be (despite the fact that it was released in February for some reason): it's got a good hero, a villain bent on destruction for money, a spunky female, and lots and lots of action. Although far from perfect, it is good fun.
Major Vic Deakins (Travolta) and Captain Riley Hale (Slater) are assigned to go on a stealth run with two thermonuclear weapons. Along the way, Deakins goes homicidal and tries to kill Hale. Failing that, he ejects his comrade into the Utah desert. Hale quickly finds out that Deakins has stolen the bombs and plans on detonating them in a US city unless he's paid big bucks. The only thing that stands in his way is Hale, who knows him way too well, and a beautiful park ranger (Mathis).
The performances are top-notch. Christian Slater makes for a sympathetic hero, toning down his crazy mannerisms. John Travolta is clearly enjoying himself as the wicked Deakins. He's bad to the bone and a total lunatic (something of which he is proud of), but Travolta never lets us forget that this man is dangerous. Samantha Mathis is okay, but she's not really at home in action movies. Another actor must be mentioned, although not for the reasons listed above. Character actor Bob Gunton, who plays the operation's financier Pritchett, is incredibly irritating. He's constantly freaking out and it gets pretty old fast.
John Woo is a master of action movies, specifically gunfighting. Although he is great with explosions, choreographing gunfights is where he truly shines, and there's a lack of that in "Broken Arrow." That's not to say that he doesn't do great work here, which he does, but that's one thing that's missing here. "Face/Off," which was released a year later, rectified this.
The film isn't flawless. The script by Graham Yost, who wrote "Speed," could have used some tightening up, and even John Woo can't cover-up the contrivances needed to make everything go according to formula. Still, this is a fun ride, with some great shots of Utah.
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